Help with receiver DH

[Copper John]

Hi guys,

So I sent of a d grade 16 ga action to a prominent engraver to have the quail on the floorplate changed into grouse. We decided to to the following additional things. Recut side engraving, and french gray the receiver. This was an adition $640 on top of the floor plate.

I received the gun back today and the floorplate looks great, but the action is far too bright. It almost looks modern. Also I can barely see the pointer on one side unless it is in the right light. When I sent the gun out it had some gaudy case coloring on it. I was expecting to get it back looking like the other d grade I have pictured here on the left. Anyone have any affordable ideas of how to achieve that color and make the dogs pop? Really bummed as this wasnt a gun I was hoping to have to put any more money in and wouldnt have ever paid $640 for what I got back.

[Dean Romig]

Wow... that's pretty sad.

Was the engraving as sharp as the one you show with it?
It looks like it was buffed pretty hard to have lost that much definition... or was it extremely worn before you sent it?

I know Geoffroy Gournet produces a wonderful French Gray finish but I don't know if he does it himself or if he sends that work to someone else. You can't go wron by giving him a call. Check out his website for a contact telephone number www.gournetusa.com
He has a heavy French accent and he is not insulted if you ask him to repeat himself... a really nice man.





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[ch]

There was one quail on the floor interesting. More pictures please. Yes, it is to bad how things go sometimes.

[B. Dudley]

I may recommend doing sometimg to darken the engraving on the gun to make it stand oit more. Like rubbkng in india ink or something of the sort.

[Dean Romig]

Geoffroy engraved this woodcock but I did my own "french gray".



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[Copper John]

Heres the floorplate.

[ch]

The floor is very nice! Is the engraving on the sides as sharp. I like Brian's idea, but one would need to test it on something. I wonder if one could get the ink off if it did not turn out good?

[Copper John]

Here are two more pictures that show how bright the finish is.. It almost looks like a beretta 686!

[B. Dudley]

You also have to account for the fact that the metal was likely still case hardened. I have little experience with french graying, so i cannot say if that would effect it or not.
Also, the amount of engraving recutting would likely be limited due to the hardened surface. The french graying and recutting, would have removed anything that was imbedded into the engraving, so it doesnt stand out as much.

Personally, i do not see much of an inherant difference between the two frames in the photo, except for the dark engraving.

[Wild Skies]

Here is the product professional engravers use to achieve the look you're after, it's called Background Antique and Vigor and is produced by Grobet USA and costs <$20 for the kit. One place to purchase this product is here: http://ngraver.com/
It's very easy to use, with a small artist's brush you simply cover the entire engraved surface with the Background Antique, let it dry for 5-7 minutes and then with the Vigor (aul solvent) dabbed onto a swatch of lint free cloth you rub over the surface gently to remove the Background Antique from the higher areas.

Below the Background Antique and Vigor pic are pics of my custom Fox which has a French Gray finish with the treatment applied.